1
: lifted up and carried away
2
: transported with emotion : enraptured
3
: wholly absorbed : engrossed
raptly adverb
raptness noun

Examples of rapt in a Sentence

The students listened with rapt attention. The children sat rapt as the puppets danced.
Recent Examples on the Web The crowd was rapt, not even looking at their phones. Antonia Hitchens, The New Yorker, 29 July 2024 His speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination opened with a dramatic, if calmly delivered, account of being grazed by a bullet that clipped his right ear, telling rapt delegates that the difference between life and death was a quarter inch. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 19 July 2024 Watching with rapt attention are several small children, all of whom appear no more than 10 years old. Charles Trepany, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024 Instead, these artists have used their subjective accolades for their art (especially when the art itself is political) and for social activism at the very moment the world is rapt. Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 9 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for rapt 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rapt.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "carried off (of a soul to heaven)," borrowed from Latin raptus, past participle of rapere "to seize and carry off, take away by force, carry or sweep along" (Medieval Latin also "to carry away [a soul to heaven]") — more at rapid entry 1

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rapt was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rapt

Cite this Entry

“Rapt.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rapt. Accessed 20 Sep. 2024.

Kids Definition

rapt

adjective
: showing complete delight or interest
listened with rapt attention
raptly adverb
raptness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rapt

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